Tell Congress Why You Want Health Care Reform for People with Arthritis!

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, the U. S. Congress told the Arthritis Foundation that they need to hear from people like us about health care reform.  The Arthritis Foundation sent out a message the same day that read in part:

“It is very important that you tell your Members of Congress about the unique health care needs of people with arthritis.  If you are currently experiencing challenges accessing or paying for health care, please tell Congress your story.  If you don’t tell them about the problem, Congress can’t include a solution in the legislation.” 

Now, I am asking you to take a few minutes to let your Congressional representatives know how you feel.  Tell them your story.  Tell them if you struggle to get quality health care at an affordable price because of your arthritis.  Tell them if you have to decide whether to buy groceries or pay for your medications.  Tell them if your mounting debt is due to medical bills your insurance provider refuses to cover.  Tell them your story.

People who don’t have a chronic condition do not know how inadequate health insurance or lack of health insurance affects us.  Now is the time for you to tell them. 

Don’t delay on this one.  According to the Arthritis Foundation, Congressional committees will start discussing health care reform legislation this week (if they haven’t already).  This is your chance to tell them your point of view while it is still in committee and before it goes to the Senate or House of Representatives for a vote.

Get started now.

How Are You Promoting Arthritis Awareness This Month?

More than 46 million Americans have some form of arthritis.  Many people do not know how arthritis affects the individuals who have it, their families and friends, their coworkers, their finances, their health insurance premiums, their quality of life, etc.

What are you doing to promote awareness of this disease that is the leading cause of disability?  This disease that affects more than 300,000 children in the United States?  The toll of arthritis is rising.  We should be educating others about it. 

Since May is Arthritis Awareness month, this is the perfect time to help promote this debilitating disease that has no cure. 

Here are some suggestions on what you can do:

• share your story with someone
• write a letter to your Congressional representative about how arthritis affects you or someone in your family
• write a letter to your Congressional representative supporting the Arthritis Prevention Control & Cure Act
• ask others to write their Congressional representatives
• send in an editorial to your local newspaper
• participate in or volunteer at a local Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Walk
• proudly display your Arthritis Awareness items
• register to be an Arthritis Advocate with the Arthritis Foundation

There are many ways to show your support.  Just choose what suits you best and let us know how you promote Arthritis Awareness!

Arthritis Bill Re-Introduced in the Senate! Call to Action!

Great news!  On May 6, 2009, the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act was re-introduced in the Senate by United States Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kit Bond (R-MO) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA)!

The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, on February 26, 2009, and is now also in the U.S. Senate.  The Senate did pass the bill last year before the 110th Congressional session ended.  However, because the House of Representatives did not pass the bill before the 110th session ended, the process must occur again.

Some main points of the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act are that it will:

• Enhance prevention efforts related to arthritis;
• Expand and strengthen research programs relating to juvenile arthritis;
• Establish a juvenile arthritis population database to track our kids and monitor their treatments;
• Enhance support for physician training programs; and
• Establish a loan repayment program for pediatric rheumatologists to address the country’s severe shortage of these critical health professionals.

So, here is your call to action.  Write or call your Congressional representatives to express your support of this crucial bill (H.R. 1210, S. 984).  If you prefer to send a letter, there a few different methods to choose from.   You can send a standard letter showing your support, prepare your own letter or personalize the standard letter.  Anything you do will help this effort!

To obtain contact information to call your representative or to easily send a letter, go to the Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Action Center.  The Arthritis Foundation has made it very easy to show your support!

To read the full text of the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act currently in the Senate and House of Representatives:

House of Representatives – H.R. 1210

Senate – S. 984

Get Involved With The Advocacy & Kids Summit 2009

The Advocacy & Kids Summit takes place on March 3rd and 4th, 2009 in Washington, DC. Approximately 350 individuals will be at the Summit, meeting with Congressional members about arthritis and how it affects their lives.

I am sure many of you would like to participate. The good news is that it is not too late. Get involved with the summit by sending an email to your Congressional members on one of those two days.

Don’t feel like writing an email? Don’t worry. Send a video instead as part of the Virtual Summit! Just make a video that lasts no more than a few minutes. Let them know who you are, what arthritis means to you and what you want them to do about it. It is that simple.

Go to the Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Action Center to get started. Good luck!

Arthritis Research Funding in Stimulus Package!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1) will be signed today by President Obama.  Overall, it is a $787 billion economic stimulus package.  The details are too numerous to list here; however, the great thing for us is that it includes $140 million in funding for the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).

NIAMS supports research for the causes, treatment and prevention of arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases.  Check out the clinical trials currently underway at NIAMS.

This is great news for the arthritic community!  I can’t wait to see how this is implemented!

Want more details on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?  You can read the full text of ARRA and submit comments on the White House website.

Great News for the Arthritis Community!

originally published 9/29/08

On September 27, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1283, Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act!  This is great news for those who have arthritis and those who may be diagnosed with it in the future!

We’re not finished yet though.  The Senate muss pass it as well, so it can then go to the President to be signed into law.  Call your Senator to encourage passage!  It not only helps yourself, but everyone in this nation that may need this important legislation at some point in their life!